Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah summoned to Delhi for Congress high command meet on May 26
Synopsis
Karnataka's political churn is heading to Delhi. CM Siddaramaiah has been summoned by the Congress high command for a 26 May meeting — reportedly covering the leadership tussle with Deputy CM Shivakumar, cabinet expansion, and Rajya Sabha seats. With five senior ministers flying along, this is more than a routine check-in.
Key Takeaways
CM Siddaramaiah confirmed a summons to New Delhi for a Congress high command meeting on 26 May at 11 a.m.
The meeting is expected to be held at the residence of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge , followed by a likely meeting with Rahul Gandhi .
Agenda reportedly includes the leadership tussle , cabinet expansion , new minister inductions, and Rajya Sabha polls .
More than five senior ministers — including G.
Parameshwara , Byrathi Suresh , K.J.
Patil — are expected to accompany the CM.
Shivakumar said he would also travel to Delhi if called by the high command, and expressed confidence in a Congress win in 2028 .
BJP in-charge Radha Mohan Das Agrawal alleged that Kharge was stoking differences between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for personal political gain.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday, 25 May confirmed he has been summoned to New Delhi for a meeting with the Indian National Congress (INC) high command on Tuesday, 26 May, amid a simmering leadership tussle in the state. Speaking to reporters at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru, he said he was unaware of the agenda for the meeting.
What Siddaramaiah Said
'I have been invited to Delhi. There is a meeting tomorrow (May 26). I do not know the subject of the meeting. They have called the meeting for 11 a.m. AICC General Secretary and MP K.C. Venugopal called me, informed me about the meeting, and invited me to attend,' Siddaramaiah told reporters.
When pressed on speculation about a possible leadership change in Karnataka, the Chief Minister acknowledged that such speculation 'is always there,' without elaborating further.
Shivakumar's Position
Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar said he too would travel to Delhi if summoned by the party high command. Shivakumar also expressed confidence about the Congress government returning to power in the 2028 Karnataka Assembly election. 'You will see, Shivakumar and the Congress government coming back to power,' he stated.
Shivakumar recalled that during the 2023 Assembly polls, he had publicly challenged predictions of a Congress defeat. 'At a time when Union Home Minister Amit Shah was talking about the BJP's victory, I challenged that Congress would win 136 seats and we came to power,' he said.
Key Developments and Expected Agenda
According to sources, Siddaramaiah's first meeting in Delhi is expected to be held at the residence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge, in the presence of K.C. Venugopal. The leaders are then likely to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Sources indicated that discussions are expected to cover the leadership tussle, cabinet expansion, induction of new ministers, and the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, in addition to broader political developments in Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah reportedly held discussions with senior cabinet colleagues following the summons and was scheduled to depart Bengaluru for Delhi at 7 p.m. on Monday. More than five senior cabinet ministers are expected to accompany him, including Home Minister G. Parameshwara, Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh, Energy Minister K.J. George, and Law Minister H.K. Patil.
BJP Allegations and Congress Response
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in-charge and National General Secretary Radha Mohan Das Agrawal has alleged that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was attempting to drive a wedge between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for his own political interests.
Home Minister Parameshwara earlier dismissed the leadership tussle speculation, asserting that any decision regarding the Chief Minister's post would rest solely with the party high command. He questioned who had originally raised the issue of a leadership change.
This high-command intervention comes at a politically sensitive moment for Karnataka Congress, with cabinet expansion, factional balancing, and Rajya Sabha seat calculations all converging simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has CM Siddaramaiah been summoned to Delhi by the Congress high command?
Siddaramaiah has been called to New Delhi on 26 May for a meeting with the Congress high command, according to AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal who personally conveyed the summons. Sources indicate the agenda covers the Karnataka leadership tussle, cabinet expansion, and upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, though Siddaramaiah himself said he was not informed of the subject.
Is there a leadership change coming in Karnataka?
No formal decision has been announced. Siddaramaiah acknowledged that speculation about a leadership change 'is always there,' while Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated that any such decision would rest solely with the party high command. The high-command meeting on 26 May is widely seen as an attempt to manage the ongoing factional tension.
Who will Siddaramaiah meet in Delhi?
According to sources, Siddaramaiah is first expected to meet AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence, with K.C. Venugopal present. The leaders are then likely to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
What is D.K. Shivakumar's stance on the Delhi meeting?
Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar said he would travel to Delhi if summoned by the high command. He also expressed confidence that Congress would return to power in the 2028 Karnataka Assembly election.
What has the BJP said about the Karnataka Congress leadership crisis?
BJP Karnataka in-charge and National General Secretary Radha Mohan Das Agrawal has alleged that AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge is deliberately stoking differences between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for his own political interests — a charge the Congress has not formally responded to.
